Silvia Azzoni was born in Turin, Italy, and completed her dance education at the School of the Hamburg Ballet. She has been a member of the Hamburg Ballet ensemble since 1993, was appointed Soloist in 1996 and Principal in 2001. John Neumeier created for her Olga Preobrajenska in Nijinsky, Aschenbach’s Concepts in Death in Venice, Silvia in Préludes CV, An Angel in Christmas Oratorio I–IV and The Rival (Sarah Bernhardt) in Duse. She has danced numerous important roles in ballets by Neumeier and other choreographers, including Christopher Wheeldon, George Balanchine, John Cranko, Mats Ek, Hans van Manen and Aszure Barton. She has performed as a guest artist at various international venues and is a regular guest at prestigious galas worldwide.
She is the co-producer of the evening Echoes of Life.
Silvia Azzoni was honoured with the Danza & Danza Prize in 2004 as best Italian female dancer abroad. For her interpretation of the title role in The Little Mermaid, she received the Benois de la Danse (2008) as well as the Rolf Mares Prize in the category ‘Exceptional Performance: Actress’. Shortly afterwards, she was awarded the Les étoiles de ballet2000 dance prize. In 2013, she won the Premio Positano as best Italian female dancer of the year and in 2016, she was honoured with the Italian Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.
